Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-05-04

traffic still prevails, to considerable ex-
tent II Maine and other states,
where prohibitory enactments have been
in existence for many years, cannot be
doubted. The evidence in support of
this proposition is lndisputable and con-
vincing. What then may we expect to
result in state so large and so situated
as Texas, with population composed Of
so many dissimilar elements?
1t has been said, and the truth of the
saying has been abandantly verified by
experience, that the wisest laws are
not always the very best that can be
framed, but are the best which people
can endure and will enforce.
No restraining liquor law would be so
bad as prohibition, legally and constitu-
tionslly recognized, yet incapable of 8
thorough and impartial enforcement.
Practical and wise craftsmanship, it
seems to me, could give to those counties
which may desire and will enforce
them, the most stringent prohibitory
enactments, and, in those counties where
popular sentiment tends in 8 contrary
direction, it would regulate the traffic so
as to curtall, as much as possible, the evils
springing from it, and at the same time
impose tax upon those who may desire
to pursue the occupation. 1t should be
borne constantly in mind that, if we
would preserve the unity of our state, leg
isIation must be of a liberal character
suitable for an empire, with all of its grand
possibilities, and not measured by the de-
mands or aspirations of states no larger
than Rhode Island or Maine or Connecti-
cut, whose populations have become al
most stationary, deriving no income from
immigration. SO far as may be practical
BILE each section of our state should be
permitted to develop along the line of its
own selection, and should not be embar-
raised or weighted by the peculiar views
of the other sections.
Under such policy Texas will grow
stronger every day in population, in
wealth and in social, moral and intellect
ual development, and the different parts.
having no grievance to complain of, will
draw closer and closer to one another,
until the words, so common in every
mouth, North Texas, East Texas, South
Texas and West Texas, will be forgotten
in the completeness of the popular
thought and feeling.
But there is an objection, of a graver
character than those mentioned, to the
adoption of the amendment.
The most careless observer has already
noticed the alarming and growing ten
dency Of federal and state legislation to
widen its jurisdiction and TO extend the
stretch of its authority into those mat
tiers which IN the earlier and
purer days of the republic were
supposed to belong exclusively to prl-
vate enterprise and to individual thought
and action. The statute books of the
federal and state governments are becom-
ing full to the OVERLOOKING of laws which
assume to control a9d influence the con-
duct of the citizen in matters which
might be properly and safely left to his
OWE discretion. This is not an American
idea. 1t comes from the paternal gov
ernments of the Old World, an6 has
no place in our system of politi-
cal conceptions and activities. In purely
mOnarChiCal governments, the King as
sumes the gracious title-Father of his
people-and they are fondly called his
children. He thinks for them, provides
for their wants, and controls them when
ever and however it may please him.
They are his subjects. Shall we adopt
the principle of kingship in this countryp
substituting the government, Orrather the
expressed and crystallized views of the
majority, for the king. And if so, when
ana where is this policy to end? What
part of our social and economical domain
will remain untouched by governmental
visitation?
This, to my mind, is
most serious thought, not only
because of the character of gov
eminent which will under the circum-
stances be formed, but also because of the
sure and disastrous effect which it will
have upon every conceivable kind of per-
sonaI aspiration and energy. Its conse:
quences are obvious. We have already
gone too far, and should take warning
from the past and the current history OF
other peoples and should proceed no
further in the direction to which prohi5i-
ton unerringly points. Socialism is dan
geTOus to strong and absolute govern
ment; it will prove fatal to the American
republic should its lodgment here be-
come permanent.
Before concluding this communication
already too lengthy, permit me to refer,
very briefly, to an economical phase of
this question. A large portion of Texas,
if not the greater part, is well adapted to
the cultivation of the grape. The yield
of this fruit is surer and more abundant
and is attended with less expense than
that of corn, or Of cotton, or of small
grain. The prosperity of California, in
this respect, should warn US
against hasty and inconsiderate
action upon the amendment. Her vast
beds and mines OF gold have been long
since exhausted, but in her vineyards she
has found wealth far SURPRISING that
which has been dug from her bosom.
Her grapes and her wine are sought after
in every market. Where 1 live certain
kinds of the grape may be grown easily,
cneaply and in the greatest abundance.
No special training or long experience
is required for the purpose. Every
man, who owns an acre of ground, may
have. if he chooses, at an expense too
trlaing to be considered, grapes and
wine, pure and harmless in its effects
for consumption by his family.
Should the amendment prevail, such
man may import from California, thus in
the wealth and maintaining the
of that state; but he will